NADBank approves $400 million for water conservation and diversification projects 

CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Chihuahua – The North American Development Bank has agreed to allocate US $400 million to finance water conservation and diversification projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

The decision was agreed by the bank’s board of directors at their recent semiannual meeting in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and was taken in response to prolonged drought conditions throughout the U.S.-Mexico border region. 

“The Rio Grande River is facing severe water shortages from prolonged drought and outdated infrastructure. The two southernmost counties in Texas have declared emergencies due to dwindling supplies,” John Beckham, NADBank’s managing director, told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. “With the new Water Resiliency Fund, NADBank will invest in conservation and diversification projects for local, regional, and binational stakeholders, offering critical relief.”

Beckham said NADBank will welcome input from the public on the Water Resilience Fund (WRF) during a 30-day public comment period, after which the Board will consider its final approval. 

Through the WRF, Beckham said, NADBank will allocate up to US$100 million in retained earnings over the next five years for concessional financing, as well as make up to US$300 million available for low-interest loans from its established lending resources. He said NADBank may also supplement these instruments with market-rate financing to further expand the reach and impact of available resources. 

John Beckham, managing director of the North American Development Bank. (Photo courtesy: NADBank)

The creation of WRF is the latest action taken by the NADBank Board of Directors to enable the Bank to invest in infrastructure that addresses critical water shortages across the region, Beckham explained. He said that through innovative financial tools such as this fund, NADBank seeks to boost efforts that promote water conservation and diversification, as well as close infrastructure gaps in access to basic water and wastewater services.

“This approach is designed to strengthen the overall investment ecosystem and accelerate the implementation of high-priority water infrastructure projects,” Beckham said. “Available resources will be allocated equally between the U.S. and Mexico to ensure equitable distribution of support across the border region.” 

Beckham also noted that “the initial phase of WRF financing is expected to prioritize projects that address urgent drought-related needs in the agriculture sector.” 

The Board also held a hybrid public meeting with approximately 100 people attending in person or via videoconference. Representatives of border communities, public and private stakeholders, project developers and non-governmental organizations shared their comments on environmental issues and proposed projects for their communities.

2025 June NADBank Board of Directors. (Photo courtesy: NADBank)

About NADBank

The NADBank Board of Directors is formed by 10 members, with the heads of the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the United States and by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for Mexico, as well as border state and resident representatives from both countries.

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